Coal import from Assam, Meghalaya suspended

Exporters stop supply protesting duty hike

Import of coal through six land customs (LC) stations in Sylhet region has remained suspended since April 1 as the exporters of the Indian states of Meghalaya and Assam have stopped exporting coal due to sudden rise in excise duty.
The suspension of import has left around 30,000 labourers jobless at the land customs stations in the region.
Two teams of coal importers-one led by Falah Uddin Ali Ahmed, president of Coal Importers Group, and another by Syed Kamal Uddin, joint secretary of the Group--left for India through Tamabil and Sheola LC stations on Thursday.
They will hold talks with Karimganj District Exporter and Importers Association and Assam Exporter and Importers Association to resolve the crisis, Coal importers Group sources said. Around 20 lakh tonnes of coal is imported through the six LC stations in Sylhet region every year. These are Tamabil, Sheola, Barchhara, Bagli, and Bholaganj and Charagaon.
About 94,000 tonnes of coal were imported through Sheola LC station until March this year, said superintendent of the station Sunandan Das yesterday.
Md Kamruzzaman, superintendent of Tamabil LC station, said over two lakh tonnes of coal were imported through the land customs station in 2012-2013 fiscal year .

Stay updated on the go with The Daily Star News App. Click here to download it for your device.